IfcEdge

Semantic definitions at the entity

Entity definition

An IfcEdge defines two vertices being connected topologically. The geometric representation of the connection between the two vertices defaults to a straight line if no curve geometry is assigned using the subtype IfcEdgeCurve. The IfcEdge can therefore be used to exchange straight edges without an associated geometry provided by IfcLine or IfcPolyline thought IfcEdgeCurve.EdgeGeometry.

	EXAMPLE Figure 439 illustrates an example where the bounds of the IfcEdge are given by the EdgeStart and EdgeEnd; this also determines the direction of the edge. The location within a coordinate space is determined by the IfcVertexPoint type for EdgeStart and EdgeEnd. Since no edge geometry is assigned, it defaults to a straight line agreeing to the direction sense.
Figure 439 — Edge representation

NOTE Definition according to ISO/CD 10303-42:1992
An edge is the topological construct corresponding to the connection of two vertices. More abstractly, it may stand for a logical relationship between two vertices. The domain of an edge, if present, is a finite, non-self-intersecting open curve in R^M, that is, a connected 1-dimensional manifold. The bounds of an edge are two vertices, which need not be distinct. The edge is oriented by choosing its traversal direction to run from the first to the second vertex. If the two vertices are the same, the edge is a self loop. The domain of the edge does not include its bounds, and 0 ≤ Ξ ≤ ∞. Associated with an edge may be a geometric curve to locate the edge in a coordinate space; this is represented by the edge curve subtype. The curve shall be finite and non-self-intersecting within the domain of the edge. An edge is a graph, so its multiplicity M and graph genus G^e may be determined by the graph traversal algorithm. Since M = E = 1, the Euler equation (1) reduces in the case to:
where V = 1 or 2, and G^e = 1 or 0. Specifically, the topological edge defining data shall satisfy:

an edge has two vertices

the vertices need not be distinct

Equation shall hold

NOTE Entity adapted from edge defined in ISO 10303-42.

HISTORY New entity in IFC2.0

Informal Propositions:

The edge has dimensionality 1.
The extent of an edge shall be finite and nonzero.

Attribute definitions

#	Attribute	Type	Cardinality	Description	G
1	EdgeStart	IfcVertex		Start point (vertex) of the edge.	X
2	EdgeEnd	IfcVertex		End point (vertex) of the edge. The same vertex can be used for both EdgeStart and EdgeEnd.	X

Inherited definitions from supertypes

Entity inheritance

Attribute inheritance

#	Attribute	Type	Cardinality	Description	G
IfcRepresentationItem
	LayerAssignment	IfcPresentationLayerAssignment @AssignedItems	S[0:1]	Assignment of the representation item to a single or multiple layer(s). The LayerAssignments can override a LayerAssignments of the IfcRepresentation it is used within the list of Items. IFC2x3 CHANGE The inverse attribute LayerAssignments has been added. IFC4 CHANGE The inverse attribute LayerAssignment has been restricted to max 1. Upward compatibility for file based exchange is guaranteed.	X
	StyledByItem	IfcStyledItem @Item	S[0:1]	Reference to the IfcStyledItem that provides presentation information to the representation, e.g. a curve style, including colour and thickness to a geometric curve. IFC2x3 CHANGE The inverse attribute StyledByItem has been added.	X
IfcTopologicalRepresentationItem
IfcEdge
1	EdgeStart	IfcVertex		Start point (vertex) of the edge.	X
2	EdgeEnd	IfcVertex		End point (vertex) of the edge. The same vertex can be used for both EdgeStart and EdgeEnd.	X

Formal representations

XML Specification

 <xs:element name="IfcEdge" type="ifc:IfcEdge" substitutionGroup="ifc:IfcTopologicalRepresentationItem" nillable="true"/>

 <xs:complexType name="IfcEdge">

  <xs:complexContent>

   <xs:extension base="ifc:IfcTopologicalRepresentationItem">

    <xs:sequence>

     <xs:element name="EdgeStart" type="ifc:IfcVertex" nillable="true" minOccurs="0"/>

     <xs:element name="EdgeEnd" type="ifc:IfcVertex" nillable="true" minOccurs="0"/>

    </xs:sequence>

   </xs:extension>

  </xs:complexContent>

 </xs:complexType>

EXPRESS Specification


ENTITY IfcEdge

 SUPERTYPE OF(ONEOF(IfcEdgeCurve, IfcOrientedEdge, IfcSubedge))

 SUBTYPE OF (IfcTopologicalRepresentationItem);

  EdgeStart : IfcVertex;

  EdgeEnd : IfcVertex;

END_ENTITY;

 EXPRESS-G diagram

	Kante - Topologie
	Edge
	Arête